Chapter 156: The Bitter Sorrows of Second Uncle Xiao

Chapter 156: Uncle Xiao's Bittersweet Sorrow

"I heard that Uncle Fu was one of the Three Young Masters of East Sea back in the day, and the most talented one among them?" Chu Fei asked.

"That's right. Back then, the East Sea had the Three Young Masters and the Four Scions. The Three Young Masters were the three most outstanding gentlemen from the three major families, while the Four Scions were the top young heirs of four super financial conglomerates. Your prospective father-in-law, Fu Pengsheng, couldn't quite be called the absolute pinnacle among the seven, but he was definitely the most talented of the Three Young Masters. He even stood out brilliantly among the top young elites of all China, ranking right at the top. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been one of the final few competing for your old lady's heart. It's just a pity that all his talent and capability were completely worthless in front of your old man. Whether it was a top young elite or a super-rich heir, they all ended up defeated by your old man, who ultimately won the beauty over. Haha, the boss is simply a god!" Second Uncle Xiao's voice was filled with boundless emotion!

What the hell!

Chu Fei was once again deeply shocked by these revelations. Although Second Uncle Xiao had only used a few words, he could easily imagine how fierce the competition must have been back then. Was the old con artist really that awesome?

"Rumor has it that when your old man and your old lady finally announced their marriage, countless young masters and noble ladies had their hearts broken. Fu Pengsheng was one of them."

Second Uncle Xiao continued to look at Chu Fei with a sigh: "As for how he and Xiao-qin ended up together later on, I suppose it was because they shared the same sympathy as fellow sufferers. So you don't need to worry at all about ruining their emotional lives. There is no one in this world who understands each other's heartache better than they do. Not to mention that Xiao-qin has undoubtedly grown past her impulsive days after all these years, even if she still harbored lingering feelings for your old man and aggressively pursued him, Fu Pengda wouldn't be angry at all; instead, he'd probably cheer her on from behind the scenes. Naturally, the reverse is true as well."

Chu Fei was struck dumb once again. He knew Second Uncle Xiao would never spout nonsense about such matters, but this was simply too exaggerated.

"However..." Even though Second Uncle Xiao made sense, Chu Fei was still worried.

"Kid, I know what you're worried about. Are you afraid that if Xiao-qin goes running after your old man again, it will mess things up between you and Ziqing?" Second Uncle Xiao suddenly laughed.

"I wasn't thinking about that." Chu Fei gave a bitter, helpless smile and shook his head. To be honest, he hadn't actually thought of that just now, but once Second Uncle Xiao pointed it out, it hit him—right, if things really played out like that, what on earth was he supposed to do about Fu Ziqing?

"You're overthinking it."

Second Uncle Xiao laughed heartily instead, "You underestimate our generation. Neither your prospective mother-in-law nor your prospective father-in-law Fu Pengsheng has a vision and perspective as narrow as you think. No matter what happens, it won't affect you younger folks. Actually..." Second Uncle Xiao paused slightly here, let out a soft sigh, and looked at Chu Fei as he said, "Actually, I feel that Xiao-qin and Fu Pengsheng have long since let go of all that. The only reason she asked for your old man's contact information now is simply to see him again; there shouldn't be any other intentions."

"Second Uncle makes sense." Chu Fei nodded after hearing this, feeling that Second Uncle Xiao's analysis was reasonable and logical. How could the most talented of the Three Young Masters of East Sea back then be so petty?

As for his prospective mother-in-law, Xie Yuqin, he had just met her, and she was undoubtedly a woman of genuine character, broad-minded, and easygoing—definitely not someone petty.

He really had been overthinking things.

With this thought, Chu Fei stopped letting his imagination run wild. Instead, he raised his head to look at Second Uncle Xiao and asked with a smile, "Second Uncle, what instructions do you have for me in calling me over?"

"Instructions is a strong word. I just wanted to ask you, what are your development plans after making your appearance in East Sea this time?" Second Uncle Xiao's expression turned serious as he stared at Chu Fei.

"What development plans?" Chu Fei was slightly taken aback.

"You came to East Sea this time—surely you're planning to develop your career here?" Second Uncle Xiao was also stunned for a moment, then chuckled, "Or do you kid still harbor reservations about me? I'll have you know I'm your old man's most loyal follower. If you don't believe me, give your old man a call right now and ask him. Whatever thoughts or moves you have in mind, you can tell me. Although your Second Uncle isn't young anymore, and I'm not the head of the Xiao family either, I still carry some weight in East Sea. Maybe I can help you out."

Chu Fei finally understood the situation. He looked at Second Uncle Xiao with a bitter smile and said, "Second Uncle, you've really misunderstood. I never intended to stay when I came to East Sea this time."

"Not staying? What do you mean? You're not just going to show your face and leave again, are you?" Second Uncle Xiao asked, looking puzzled.

"Yes." Chu Fei nodded, making no attempt to conceal it as he spoke the truth, "My trip here was purely to attend Old Master Fu's birthday banquet, nothing more. If Second Uncle hadn't called me, I might have already left East Sea by now."

"Is that so?"

Second Uncle Xiao furrowed his brows, staring at Chu Fei for a full two minutes before asking with a frown, "Kid, you don't still distrust your Second Uncle, do you?"

"Of course not. I really didn't plan on developing my career here. Now that the birthday banquet is over, I'll be leaving in two or three days at most," Chu Fei replied earnestly.

Second Uncle Xiao's frown deepened, and he remained silent for a long, heavy moment.

Chu Fei didn't speak either, quietly keeping him company.

Finally, Second Uncle Xiao let out a sigh and said, "Fine, since you don't plan to develop your career here, then so be it. Consider it unsaid. But you must be on guard against the Lin family. Everyone in the Lin family is a wolf. Throughout the entire East Sea, the Lin family is universally acknowledged as the most ruthless and cold-blooded pack of jackals. Since you humiliated them so severely at the banquet this time, they will definitely not let it go. They will retaliate." A genuine, heartfelt worry flickered deep within Second Uncle Xiao's eyes.

"Thank you for the warning, Second Uncle. I'll be careful," Chu Fei said gratefully, feeling the genuine care emanating from Second Uncle Xiao even more acutely.

"Being careful is one thing, but being able to handle them is what counts." Second Uncle Xiao looked at Chu Fei solemnly, "Actually, the best way to handle this is to rise to power with overwhelming force. Chu Fei, my boy, I'm not boasting: as long as you step forward right now and shout a single word, all those uncles and elders who used to follow the boss back in the day will immediately step out to back you up and rapidly help you build a solid foundation for your career. While it might not match the deep-rooted foundation of the Lin family, it would certainly be enough to make them think twice before making any reckless moves."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Second Uncle, but I really have no desire to plant roots in East Sea right now," Chu Fei gave a wry smile. He could see the reluctance and disappointment in Second Uncle Xiao's eyes, but there was nothing he could do. He truly hadn't thought about rising to prominence in East Sea—at least, not yet.

"Hehe, Second Uncle was just too impatient. I've been suppressed for too many years and was itching to go crazy just one more time." Second Uncle Xiao laughed heartily, though a trace of desolation flashed deep within his eyes, hidden so well that it was barely perceptible.

Yet it didn't escape Chu Fei's notice.

A wave of emotion stirred in his heart.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled what Second Uncle Xiao had said earlier about the old con artist's former glory, surrounded by a group of exceptionally capable young master underlings. Yet in the end, the old con artist had suddenly vanished without a trace, without even a word to those loyal followers.

Over all these years, those brothers of the old con artist must have harbored immense suppression in their hearts. Doubtless, more than one of them shared Second Uncle Xiao's desire to rise up and wield power brilliantly once again, but none of them had anyone to lead the charge.

His own appearance had given these people a catalyst. Chu Fei guessed that Second Uncle Xiao bringing this up to him now probably wasn't just his own idea alone, but rather the collective sentiment of many of those former uncles and elders. They wanted to use him as a vehicle for one last glorious rampage.

Thinking of this, Chu Fei cast a complex glance at Second Uncle Xiao, who was quietly sipping his tea, and asked, "Second Uncle, have you been living under a lot of pressure all these years?"

"Under a lot of pressure?"

Second Uncle Xiao raised his head. Seeing the concern in Chu Fei's eyes, he seemed to understand what Chu Fei was getting at and burst into a laugh, "Suppressed, perhaps, but not to the extent of unbearable pressure. Your Second Uncle isn't the type to dwell on things to the point of despair. It's just that without your old man taking the lead, the rest of us felt like we lost our backbone."

"Hehe—" Chu Fei offered a helpless smile. He had guessed right; all these people who had once followed the old con artist deeply missed those glorious days of the past.

At that thought, Chu Fei suddenly gritted his teeth, looked straight at Second Uncle Xiao, and said solemnly, "Second Uncle, I really don't have any plans to develop my career in East Sea right now, but don't you worry. Sooner or later, I will come back. And when that day comes, I will definitely bring all of you back to the pinnacle of glory—just as glorious as it was thirty years ago!"

"Really?" Second Uncle Xiao's eyes instantly lit up as he stared fixedly at Chu Fei, "Kid, don't you dare string your Second Uncle along. Your Second Uncle has been waiting for this day for over twenty years!"

"How could I dare fool Second Uncle?" Chu Fei smiled, his gaze utterly sincere.

"Good! Second Uncle will just wait for your triumphant return!" Excitement immediately bloomed across Second Uncle Xiao's face. He suddenly threw his head back and let out a few hearty laughs, looking at Chu Fei: "Chu Fei, my boy, do you know? Those days back then were the ones we cherish the most. It's a pity that all of us were far too arrogant back then; apart from your old man, none of us would take orders from anyone else. But you're different. The moment you come back, Second Uncle swears to you, all us old fogies will throw our full weight behind you! When that time comes, whatever Six Great Families or Ten Financial Conglomerates there are can all go screw themselves—you will be the undisputed uncrowned king of East Sea!"

"Damn!"

Chu Fei broke out in a cold sweat. Second Uncle Xiao was clearly getting a bit too carried away with his excitement. Wiping out all Six Great Families meant wiping out the Xiao family as well, didn't it? He himself was a member of the Xiao family, wasn't he? Wouldn't that be a case of executing justice upon his own flesh and blood?

However, Chu Fei didn't point it out. Instead, the raw, frantic passion in Second Uncle Xiao's eyes made his heart ache slightly with bittersweet emotion. He silently resolved that even for the sake of these uncles and elders who remained immersed in the past, he would raise absolute hell in East Sea one day. He would make up for all the regrets the old con artist had left behind!

Second Uncle Xiao was truly beside himself with excitement. He immediately ordered a lavish banquet to be set up, keeping Chu Fei company as they drank until his face was flushed red. Yet no matter how Chu Fei tried to pry information out of him, Second Uncle Xiao refused to speak any further of the old con artist's past exploits. Instead, he kept relentlessly pushing his own precious daughter to Chu Fei, praising her as a crystal-clear beauty and demanding that Chu Fei seriously consider taking her as a concubine... which left Chu Fei sweating profusely. Promoting one's own daughter to be someone else's mistress—Second Uncle Xiao was truly one of a kind under the heavens.

It wasn't until night had completely fallen that Second Uncle Xiao finally relented and let him go, telling Chu Fei to return and keep his fiancée Fu Ziqing company.

Chu Fei fled as if his life depended on it.

"That brat wouldn't be playing me for a fool just now, would he?"

Watching the closed door, the hazy intoxication in Second Uncle Xiao's eyes suddenly vanished, replaced by a sharp clarity. He muttered to himself, stood up, and picked up his phone just as he was about to call someone to pick him up—when the door he had just closed was pushed open once more.

Thinking it was Chu Fei coming back because he had forgotten something, Second Uncle Xiao raised his head, ready to crack a couple of jokes, only to freeze dead in his tracks. The next second, a rush of blood flooded his face...

"B-Boss?"

Second Uncle Xiao's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared fixedly at the scholarly, dashing man slowly walking through the doorway, his eyes instantly turning red...

(Chapter Six is delivered! Finally uploaded, though it's past midnight—my apologies. Also, I might wake up late tomorrow; if the noon update isn't on time, please don't scold me, rest assured there will definitely be two chapters! A new week begins, begging for IP votes! Everyone has them, don't forget. I'm going to sleep now, good night, my dear readers!)